He refuses to go to personal care. He has fallen several times and is not safe. He lives in a boarding room and access to kitchen and laundry is on the other side of the house and you must go outside. He doesn't clean his room and do laundry unless I come over. He can't get food unless I come over. I live over an hour away. He tells me he can do this but he has shown that he cannot. I am lost as to what to do. I have called Office of Aging and also he was just in emergency room for dehydration. He has also lost considerable weight of 20 pounds in 5 months. Both tell me there is nothing they can do if he is of "sound mind". I use that term loosely.
That is the reality of trying to help a vulnerable adult who is still competent.
If you stop doing those things, he will soon realize that in fact he does need more help then he first thought, and hopefully be more open to discuss his long term care. I wish you well.
You can try this at a hospital too but my RN daughter says they aren't under the same rules as Rehabs are.
Instead of telling him that he should move as my MIL had significant dementia and was difficult to live with, I started asking him questions about what he envisioned for the future, how he saw the next few years etc. Turns out he understood he needed to move but he was stuck by all the stuff he had at his house. It was not that he was totally attached to it, he just could not figure out how to move and where to start. They had been in their home since 1957. He had the beginnings of vascular dementia and could not really problem solve. So maybe ask him how he sees his life going, especially if you stop coming over and enabling him. That may lead to a breakthru.
And then, on your own, start researching options for him that would be near you. His financial status is going to be important here but once you know how much he has, (or does not have), you can research options just so you are aware. If there are viable options for him other than emergency placement, you can possible show him and get him to agree. If not, you will have to wait for an emergency, and there will be one. But at least you will be prepared with some knowledge ahead of time.
Good luck; such a difficult journey.
I do not like "ignore him" advice because that much weight loss means something is drastically wrong and he really needs to be in the hospital--from there he needs to get a medical and a psychiatric evaluation, and social workers can do safer placement.
TALK TO HIM FIRST and get him to the emergency room. IF HE REFUSES, you MUST fight for him. It is time to take action and call 911.
DO NOT ASSUME IS HE IS COMPETENT.
IF that were my parent and under those conditions, I would call 911 and tell them you feel your dad is a danger to himself and has something drastically wrong.
If you feel he is a danger to himself you may want to get a psychiatric evaluation after ruling out medical reasons for the weight loss. In Florida this is known as a "Baker Act".
THINK SAFETY FIRST.
He may be waiting to see if you'll offer to let him live with you.
You can't blame him for not wanting to go live at a Senior place,
they are understaffed and not a fun place to live, as you loose all your rights and are told what to do and when to do it.
He wojld be happier staying where he is if he doesn't have family he could move in with.
While he's staying where he is, You could install a camera in his room that he can be watched 24 7 by your cell or computer, in case he falls, ect in side his room.
He could also wear a fall necklace in case he falls outside going to the kitchen or bathroom.
He should have a small refrigerator and a microwave in his room.
He needs plenty of easy stuff to eat in his room.
You can basically cook and warm up anything in a microwave.
They have easy microwaveable meals for breakfast, lunch or Dinner.
He should have easy snacks to eat like Breakfast Bars, Cheese Crackers, Peanut Butter Crackers, Nuts, Bananas, Apple Sauce, Yogurt, Breakfast Drinks like Ensure. Easy Soups to heat up that you don't have to mix with water, Juice, Milk.
You may try to get him on Meals on Wheels and have a meal delivered to him once a day.
Prayers
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